BMI report on Princess of the Stars released to concerned parties today

MANILA, Philippines – A lawyer of the Philippine Coast Guard disclosed yesterday that the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) report on the ill-fated M/V Princess of the Stars that sank off Romblon last June 21 will be released today to the concerned parties, including the family of the missing ship captain.

Lissabelle Villanueva, from the  office of  PCG commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, said the family of ship captain Florencio Marimon Sr. was informed that a copy of the report would be sent to them when the BMI report is released today.

Villanueva said they informed Marimon’s family “to give fair opportunity to the surviving heirs of the master mariner because the BMI report might have an implication on them.”

BMI vice chairman Captain Demetrio Ferrer earlier told reporters that based on their initial findings it appeared that the captain or master mariner might have committed an error in judgment that resulted in the sinking of the passenger ship off Sibuyan Island in Romblon at the height of typhoon “Frank.” More than 200 bodies of victims were recovered while over 600 more are still missing, including that of Marimon. 

“The vessel had reached the so-called position where the master (Marimon) had to take extraordinary diligence and must undertake his overriding authority, as we call it, to take evasive action to save the vessel and the lives (of the crew and passengers on board). But, in a way, he failed,” Ferrer said.

The other concerned parties who would get the board’s report are the senior officials of Sulpicio Lines Inc. (SLI), owner of the Princess of the Stars, led by senior first vice president Edgar Go; the safety officers and the port captains who testified during the hearings.

Villanueva added that the BMI would also invite officials of the PCG and the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) when they finalize the recommendations.

The Department of Justice is also expected to get a copy of the BMI report so it could conduct further investigation and determine if criminal charges should be filed.

Tamayo said other concerned parties could request for a copy of the report at the BMI office.

“I will be around the BMI office to explain to the parties how we arrived at our recommendations and findings. If they have any objections, they could file an appeal before the Department of Transportation and Communication within one month,” he said.